<p>Isn’t there a WM nearby in Delaware? It really seems like a shame to be in tax-free Delaware and go elsewhere to pay sales tax.</p>
<p>There is one in New Castle about 7 miles away, but I haven’t been there.</p>
<p>(302) 324-0900
117 Wilton Blvd
New Castle, DE 19720</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, very useful info here!</p>
<p>Actually for us, Freshman Fest works really well because we have a wedding in VT that weekend and possibly my daughter’s movein in Boston, which we couldn’t go to if he moves in on Saturday. We live in NYC. That being said, even with the Thursday move-in, we couldn’t stick around. We’d have to get back home to get ready for the next event. That’s why I asked about room accessories. We’ll try to get what he’ll need in advance. Since DE isn’t too far, we can always drive down another weekend if need be and take him shopping for the rest of the stuff.</p>
<p>My son also has few hanging cloths, and even at that, he’s too lazy to even hang those (throws his jacket on a chair, that kind of thing). He’s a bit of a slob! The shelves sound like a good compromise. ALso good tips with regard to rug, lamp, etc.</p>
<p>I’m hoping he does Freshman Fest, but ultimately, it’s up to him. I just read on the website that Shabbot services are optional so now it’s looking all that much more promising.</p>
<p>Handemom-
I just wanted to let you know that my daughter and her friend (who she met on facebook) just gave the ok to sign them up for Freshman Fest. On the information that you fill out it actually says that the service is optional and after you enter all of the information it directs you to paypal for payment which is $50.00. I think for many reasons it is a great idea (especially the moving in early) and I think it would be nice for them to meet a much smaller group before the masses move in.</p>
<p>My son agreed to do it too!</p>
<p>My D and an online new friend also agreed to go I was surprised I think the no service option sold them. By the way I signed up for the Courtyard VIP free program and got a rate of 125$ that thursday night.</p>
<p>My son is also doing Freshman Fest. Are most of you staying overnight until Friday (or even Saturday)? I guess it makes sense, especially if there is time on Friday to finish move-in (or do we need to stick around until Saturday)?</p>
<p>DD moves in early to do Arrival Survival. She and I will go down on Thursday and DH will come down on Friday night with her car. We’re staying until Sunday ($41 at the Hilton 
) We don’t have the freshman year separation stress so we’ll be around to buy “stuff”, for a meal or two with her friends and a trip to Longwood Gardens.</p>
<p>My son is also going to Freshman Fest but we will not be staying over. Friday we have to drive my daughter to Boston. I’m hoping we can get my son’s room somewhat in order in the 2 hours that we have access. </p>
<p>I can’t believe it’s less than 2 weeks away!</p>
<p>I switched my reservation to the hilton on thursday and friday also but i bid 45$ nice job the_mom with the 41$:)</p>
<p>This is an old thread, but I wanted to get some feedback from the familiar people on it who I know are still here on the UD thread.</p>
<p>Did you end up staying over or did you rush to get your S or D all set up on drop off for Freshman Fest?</p>
<p>Was your S or D glad they did it?</p>
<p>How many freshmen attended?</p>
<p>Which website did you get Hilton for $45?</p>
<p>Are there events for freshman parents upon move-in that you miss if you don’t move in on the regular day? (I hope not because I won’t want to prolong the separation!)</p>
<p>Any other feedback on Freshman Fest?</p>
<p>I see that UD is about 10% Jewish (which is much better than our HS was!) –</p>
<p>My son did it this past fall. We did not stay over because we had to take my daughter to college in Boston the next day! They actually give you a small window to help your child move in. They start activities within a couple of hours of the designated arrival time.</p>
<p>He enjoyed it, and did meet some kids there that he’s still friends with. There were several kids from his dorm who did it.</p>
<p>The Hilton deal was through bidding on Priceline. It seemed to be fine for those who did it for Freshman Fest. Although a bunch of us did it for parents weekend, and at the last minute Hilton pulled the plug and moved people to an inferior hotel. Some of us did get refunds and rebooked at what was left of the better places. It is probably fine to do it for Freshman Fest if you decide to stay over, but don’t bid on Priceline for parents’ weekend. In fact, you should book something a couple of months in advance of the date. It’s a busy weekend there.</p>
<p>I think there may have been some parent activities at regular move-in, but if you can go to the Freshman Orientation, I think that pretty much covers the same programs for parents.</p>
<p>On a side note, my son just pledged with one of the Jewish frats, although he’s not all that involved with the Hillel.</p>
<p>I just want to add that I think the headcount was about 100 last fall.</p>
<p>My D did it last year she was happy to check in early,we did stay through saturday because we had some odds and ends to take care of. My D shocked us when she told us she became the VP of hillel in November it’s pretty active but not over the top with activities,you can participate as much as you want. I don’t think you will miss any activities by not moving in on regular move in day just some dorm lectures on security drinking policy etc. not very informative. Like handemom said the Hilton deal was on priceline. We use it all the time because as a music major my D is in alot of shows. You bid on a star level the highest star level for Newark is a 3 I always get a room for between 41 and 45 dollars. The last 4 times I bid we got the courtyard Marriott in Christiana. We just opened up a marriott credit card and they gave us a free night voucher and 22,500 points on our first charge and waived the first year annual fee of 50$.</p>
<p>This is all great information. Thanks so much. For anyone just reading about Freshman Fest for the first time, the UD Hillel website is udhillel.org. Info not posted yet. </p>
<p>Do they have an activities fair kind of thing at admitted students day? Hoping Hillel has a table …</p>
<p>The “beater” bike is excellent advice. Also, register it with campus police.</p>
<p>Apparently, my D’s was not “beaten” enough, and was still attractive enough to steal. (Halloween weekend). She loved riding it.</p>
<p>She saw it one day last month locked up in front of a building…called campus police and could prove it was hers because it was registered, and she got it back.</p>
<p>I don’t think that Hillel had a table at the activities fair, they just had flyers at a combined religious groups table. I’d imagine you can always go over to their building if you want and see if someone is there. My son is also very involved in Hillel, also much to my surprise. In fact he is going to volunteer to work FF this year.</p>
<p>We also stayed overnight until Saturday but probably didn’t need to. But we also had a great rate at Priceline and we went to a cool farmers market in Pennsylvania that we really like which is only open on Fridays, so it wasn’t a waste. Also they had a reception for parents after dropping off the kids on Thursday, we ended up eating dinner there instead of going out to dinner as planned. Then on Saturday we went out to Costco with him and picked up cases of drinks and let the kids carrying stuff for move-in carry it upstairs for us .</p>
<p>There were a couple of “info sessions” for parents at the dorm lounge on the actual move-in day. You probably won’t learn a lot more than you will at Delaworld (orientation) unless you are the sort who likes to ask questions about crime and stuff like that on every possible occasion. What I remember was how stiflingly hot it was in the Russell Lounge.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the Priceline tip! Just saved money that, I’m sure, will go right to the UD bookstore this weekend! Love the UD parents!</p>
<p>Here’s another tip that will save you money. Don’t spend your money at the UD bookstore, at least not until you’ve checked out the stores on Main Street (National 5 & 10 and Liebermans). You will likely find logo stuff much cheaper, even with the discount you’ll get (I think you get it on accepted students day, if not you’ll get it at Delaworld).</p>
<p>If you’re really into bargain hunting for UD clothing, we found a good selection at the Kohls stores in the area. Sadly they are a few miles away and you’ll never find them without a GPS (and I am probably the only idiot who went out of their way to find it).</p>